17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength, it cannot save. Psalm 33:17
Great Horses of History and Why We Should Not Trust in Horses Part 1
Horses are wonderful creatures and a gift from God!
Horses have played a vital part in shaping the world and its history.
God in His Providence has given humans everything we need to move through our lives and history.
In the book of Job, horses are mentioned by God in His discussion with Job.
“Do you give the horse its strength
or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust,
striking terror with its proud snorting?
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,
and charges into the fray.
22 It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;
it does not shy away from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against its side,
along with the flashing spear and lance.
24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
25 At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’
It catches the scent of battle from afar,
the shout of commanders, and the battle cry." Job 39:19-25
"The horse is an important fixture in the Old and New Testaments. The common theme throughout the Bible is combat and the deep-seated physical strength of horses. That explains why they were so essential during the war. When Pharaoh was pursuing the Israelites, he took some of his best chariots and horses. The book of Exodus 14:9 says that Pharaoh took his best troops and horsemen to prevent the departure of the Israelites. In Song of Solomon 1:9, the writer compares his lover to a mare. Here the horse signifies beauty and grace. In several other scriptures, horses have been used as symbols of courage and adventure..." from the article: What does the horse symbolize in the Bible? (Symbolism and meaning)
There have been many Great Horses throughout human history.
In part one let's look at Marengo, the horse of Napoleon.
Napoleon's Warhorse : Marengo│The Legendary Life of a Horse│Horse History
Video from Horse History
"Napoleon is truly one of the greatest commanders and statesmen of all time. In Napoleon's Grande Armée, the life of a war horse was challenging, dangerous, and typically brief. However, one of these horses has become a legend since the 1830’s – Napoleon’s favorite charger, Marengo.
So how did Marengo become the mount of a European overlord? What sort of story did he and Napoleon have together?" from the video introduction
Marengo: a warhorse's makeover
Watch a Museum conservator reposition the delicate skeleton of Napoleon Bonaparte's horse, Marengo.
This small stallion carries the weight of more than 200 years of history, having served in the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon rode Marengo through battles across Europe from 1800 until 1815. Although the steed was just 1.4 meters tall - and was injured in battle eight times - he never threw his master from the saddle.
Marengo was abandoned at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and brought to England, where his skeleton was preserved after his death in 1831. It has been on display at the National Army Museum in London since the 1960s.
Gravity had taken its toll after all those decades on show. Museum conservator Arianna Bernucci was called in to provide expert help in restoring the faithful horse's noble posture..." from the article: Marengo: a warhorse's makeover
Preserving the Past
Many horses from history have been preserved either in part (skeletons) or by taxidermy.
Many of us might recall that the Actor Roy Rogers had his horse "Trigger " preserved by taxidermy.
Napoleon's horse Marengo was also kept and is on display at the National Art Museum UK.
Meet Marengo: Conserving Napoleon's Horse
Video from NationalArmyMuseumUK
"Watch the delicate and difficult process of conserving the skeleton of Napoleon Bonaparte’s horse, Marengo." from the video introduction
For further reading: 4 Famous Horses from the Ancient World: Most Noble Steeds
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